By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2025-03-24 22:12:05 | Updated at 2025-03-30 07:13:26
5 days ago
Former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez has been sentenced to five years in prison over the attempted murder of a man accused of sexually assaulting his four-year-old son.
In 2022, Velasquez shot at Harry Goularte during a car chase. Velasquez missed Goularte but struck his stepfather with a bullet.
On Monday, Velasquez was sentenced to five years in prison in a Santa Clara, California, courtroom, though he was given credit for three years of time served, according to TMZ.
Goularte's family reportedly asked for a longer sentence for Velasquez than what was given. Goularte faces one felony charge of lewd acts with a minor and is set for trial on June 2nd.
Velasquez reached a deal with prosecutors to avoid a life sentence after several trial delays. However, he is still expected to serve a long time in jail when his sentencing concludes in a San Jose courtroom.
Speaking on the Kyle Kingsbury podcast , Velasquez acknowledged 'what I did, and 'what I did was very dangerous to other people.
Former UFC champion Cain Velasquez was sentenced to five years in prison for attempted murder
Velasquez was arrested after firing a gun at a man who allegedly molested his son
'Not just people involved, but to innocent people. I understand what I did and I'm willing to do everything I have to pay that back.'
'Whatever the court feels correct for what I have to do, I'm going to do it with my head up and still be me and not play the blame game. It was me that did that and reacted in that way.'
Velasquez added that he has forgiven the Goularte family who ran the daycare where the alleged molestation happened.
'Even with that family and what they've done, I can't have hate like that for them,' he said. 'Because there are things that I have to move on to and give love to my kids and give love to the people around.'
Velasquez's MMA career was highlighted by his two UFC title wins. He won the title by defeating Brock Lesnar in 2010 before losing to Junior dos Santos in his first defense. He'd go on to regain the title in their 2012 rematch and dropped it to Fabricio Werdum in 2012.
He retired in 2019 with a 14-3 record after getting knocked out by Francis Ngannou.
